C-T phase diagram and Landau free energies of (AgAu)55 nanoalloy via neural-network molecular dynamic simulations

Abstract

For understanding the structure, dynamics, and thermal stability of (AgAu)55 nanoalloys, knowledge of the composition-temperature (c-T) phase diagram is essential due to the explicit dependence of properties on composition and temperature. Experimentally, generating the phase diagrams is very challenging, and therefore theoretical insight is necessary. We use an artificial neural network potential for (AgAu)55 nanoalloys. Predicted global minimum structures for pure gold and gold rich compositions are lower in energy compared to previous reports by density functional theory. The present work based on c-T phase diagram, surface area, surface charge, probability of isomers, and Landau free energies supports the enhancement of catalytic property of Ag-Au nanoalloys by incorporation of Ag up to 24% by composition in Au nanoparticles as found experimentally. The phase diagram shows that there is a coexistence temperature range of 70 K for Ag28Au27 compared to all other compositions. We propose the power spectrum coefficients derived from spherical harmonics as an order parameter to calculate Landau free energies. © 2017 Author(s).